Enhancing Climate Resilience

The city was hit by Super Typhoon Saola in early September, followed by record-breaking rain that inundated Hong Kong, causing widespread flooding across the city. Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) emerged relatively unscathed from these extreme weather events which is a testament to our high level of preparedness and robust emergency response. As the impact of climate change is becoming more evident, we remain committed to building a low-carbon and climate-resilient airport through implementing the HKIA Decarbonisation Roadmap to 2035, enhancing our adaptive capacity, and integrating climate-related considerations into infrastructure development.
 
I am pleased to provide the following updates on our key initiatives:

• Release of Sustainability Report 2022/23 – The report provides a comprehensive view of AAHK's achievements and continued efforts on sustainability. It also showcases how we incorporate sustainability into our operations and corporate culture.
   
• HKIA Carbon Capacity Building Programme – To further enhance the business partners' capacity in carbon management, we organised an event titled "Value Chain Management and Scope 3 Mapping" in August. Further details can be found in the ‘What’s happening’ section.

• Managing flood risks at HKIA – We are conducting a review with further modelling of the seawall and an airport-wide drainage system using the latest climate projections under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Where required, we will enhance our Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan to address any new risks arising as a result of sea level rise, storm surges, overtopping waves and extreme rainfall across 2030, 2050 and 2100.

• CEEQUAL Whole Team Award – AAHK has completed the final Sustainability Performance Assessment under CEEQUAL for the Third Runway and Associated Works and achieved the top excellent rating for the Whole Team Award in April 2023. Further details can be found in the ‘Spotlight’ section.

Peter Lee
General Manager, Sustainability
Airport Authority Hong Kong

CEEQUAL Whole Team Award for The Third Runway and Associated Works

Q & A with Eden Ngan, Senior Manager, Sustainability, AAHK

Q: Can you briefly explain what CEEQUAL (now known as BREEAM Infrastructure) is and why it's significant for The Third Runway and Associated Works project?
 
A: CEEQUAL is a leading sustainability assessment and certification scheme specifically designed for infrastructure and civil engineering projects. It provides a comprehensive framework to evaluate and improve the sustainability performance of infrastructure developments.
 
While the main 3RS buildings, including the expanded Terminal 2 and new Terminal 2 Concourse, are certified under the Hong Kong’s leading Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) Plus, the Third Runway and Associated Works of the 3RS project has become the first large-scale non-building infrastructure project in Hong Kong that has gained third-party certification of its sustainability performance – an “Excellent” rating under the Interim Client and Design Award under CEEQUAL. In April 2023, we completed the final Sustainability Performance Assessment and achieved the top excellent rating for the Whole Team Award.
 
Q: Could you highlight some specific sustainable practices or initiatives that were implemented during the project? How did these initiatives benefit the project?

A: The works under the Third Runway and Associated Works form a key component of the 3RS project. The works comprise all elements of permanent works and temporary works required for completion, commission and operation of the new Third Runway. Several sustainable practices and initiatives were implemented during the project, showcasing environmental best practices and innovative solutions. These include:

• Incorporating the latest projections on future sea level rise by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in the design process to enhance the infrastructure's climate resilience.
• Utilising non-dredge methods like Deep Cement Mixing (DCM) for ground improvement, minimizing the impact on the marine environment.
• Treating of marine sediment with cement mixing and stabilization/ solidification method for onsite reuse (marine sediment generated from the DCM treated area has facilitated the process when the sediment involved has already been effectively treated in-situ).
• Establishing and managing the Integrated Marine Traffic Control Centre to monitor construction vessels and minimize ecological impact.
• Actively engaging with key stakeholders through the Professional Liaison Group and five Community Liaison Groups to facilitate communication on sustainability and environmental issues related to the 3RS project.

 
Q: Were there any particular challenges or obstacles that your team encountered during the planning, design or construction process? How did you overcome them?
 
A: We have strived to achieve a balance between economic development and conservation in bringing the 3RS project to fruition. One of the challenges was minimizing environmental impacts throughout the project cycle. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that evaluated the potential effects of the project on various aspects, such as aircraft noise, air quality, marine ecology and fisheries at the scheme design stage of the 3RS project. We formulated mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, and compensate for these impacts. Additionally, we went beyond regulatory requirements by implementing a Green Airport Design Strategy to incorporate environmental best practices and innovative solutions into the project's design.

Another significant challenge we encountered was stakeholder engagement. To tackle this, we maintained active and ongoing dialogue with stakeholders throughout the development of the 3RS project. We organised over 1,200 engagement activities and established a Professional Liaison Group and Community Liaison Groups comprising district councillors and community leaders from nearby districts. A dedicated website was created to provide up-to-date information on the project's progress, sustainability efforts, and environmental monitoring and auditing.
 
Q: How does AAHK promote the integration of green design and sustainable construction considerations in infrastructure projects across HKIA?
 
A: Building upon the foundation of the 3RS Green Airport Design Strategy, we launched the airport-wide Green Airport Design and Construction (GADC) Strategy in 2021. This strategy aims to provide a consistent approach to incorporating green design principles and sustainable construction techniques in projects undertaken by AAHK, as well as those delivered in collaboration with franchisees and other business partners at HKIA.

In July 2022, we introduced a new Climate Resilience Guidance Note and a set of Guidelines on Energy Efficiency of New Building Design as part of the GADC Strategy. These updates serve as a comprehensive resource for project managers, enabling them to assess climate-related risks and develop strategies to enhance the resilience of future buildings and infrastructure at HKIA, in addition to measures that will help reduce carbon emissions.

Hong Kong’s First “Climate Change Framework for Built Environment”
 
The Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) launched Hong Kong's first "Climate Change Framework for the Built Environment" in June 2023. The aim of this framework is to accelerate the decarbonisation process in the building industry. Developed through extensive stakeholder consultations and benchmarking of international experience, the Framework seeks to facilitate industry practitioners in meeting decarbonisation targets and fostering net zero carbon and climate resilience across Hong Kong's building sector.

The framework encompasses various crucial aspects, including embodied carbon, operational carbon, physical climate risk assessments, as well as adaptation and resilience. Building owners can utilise these tools to evaluate their building's performance and establish carbon and energy targets. The HKGBC plans to continuously enhance this document in collaboration with industry experts, incorporating best practices and performance benchmarks.

Additionally, the council is working on developing other chapters that focus on end-of-life carbon management, carbon offsetting for the built environment, and more, considering the comprehensive Cradle-to-Cradle approach to building carbon management.

The framework can be downloaded here: Climate Change Framework for the Built Environment